Strap-tightener.



P. D GHRIS TMAN.

STRAP TIGHTENER.

APPLICATION, FILED MAE. 21,1911.

Patented Sept. 12,1911.

Patented Sept. 12,19 11.

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xvi human 0LIJMBIA PLANOGRAPM C04, WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

PHILIP D. CHRISTMAN, OF BRYAN, OHIO.

STRAP-TIGHTENER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP D. CHnIsT- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bryan, in the county of Williams and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Strap-Tighteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the ac companying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the figures and let ters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to that class of strap tighteners or take up devices illustrated in my prior Patent No. 97 8,357 the objects of the present improvement being to provide a device which may be formed up of sheet metal and which will have the advantage of a positive lock which will retain the parts in closed or operative position, the locking mechanism being so designed as that it will exert a yielding pressure for keeping the parts tight and thereby prevent rattling when subjected to vibration.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structure which may be cheaply and easily manufactured and which will be neat and attractive in design.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tightener embodying the present improvements, the parts being shown in locked position in full lines and in open and partly extended position in dotted lines; Figs. 2 and 3 are elevations looking respectively at the top and bottom of the device shown in Fig. 1 with the parts in their locked position; Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4*4: of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal section; and Fig. 6 is a plan view illustrating a modification in the form of the connections at opposite ends of the device.

Like letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.

The working parts of the present device are preferably all formed up from sheet metal by suitable dies, thus there is a U- shaped body portion A which at one end is adapted for attachment to the framework of the automobile, the attaching means, if desired, being, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, a simple eye plate A which is fastened down by a screw or bolt, but if desired, said eye plate may be pivotally connected with the body A as by a hinge connection A ,cSl1OWI1 in the modification, Fig. 6. At the opposite end Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 21, 1911.

Patented Sept. 12, 1911.

Serial No. 615,957.

the body A isprovided with a transverse pin or bolt B forming the pivot for a hand lever C. Said lever C is preferably also of U-shape in cross section, and is adapted to turn down so as to embrace or inclose the body A, as best seen in Fig. 1. It is conveniently provided with a raised finger piece C and the pivot bolt extends across and connects the forwardly projecting arms C lying on opposite sides of the body A.

Pivotally connected with the lever C is a link D, the pivotal connections bet-ween the link and lever being so located with relation to the axis of the lever as that when the parts are in looking position, as shown in full lines, Fig. 1, a direct pull or tension on the link will tend to hold the. lever more tightly closed. In other words, the axis of the link on the lever moves past the center or line of strain between the end of the link and opposite end of the body. The link D at its forward end is preferably formed into a hook D with which a strap ring or other connection may be engaged, although, if desired, it may be in the form of a simple eye or loop, as shown at E in the modification, Fig. 6. For holding the link and lever in looking position and in the preferred construction also closing the hook on the link to prevent the escape of the cooperating member, a sliding lock is provided in the body A adapted to engage with the outer end of the link so as to hold the same in closed position, said lock having a projection which passes up to close the opening to the hook. This lock is conveniently mounted in the U-shaped body A and consists of side arms F having slot bearings therein, through which the pivot bolt of the lever passes and is confined at the rear end in the body A by inturned lugs a on the side walls of the body. A coiled spring located between the side arms of the lock and at one end engaging the rear end of the lock, and at the other end engaging the said pivot bolt, serves to hold the lock advanced, or in engaging position. At its forward end the lock is provided with a seat or seats G for the reception of the shoulders or cross piece H of the link and with inclined surfaces I with which said shoulders may engage to front of the body A and are adapted to enter slots or recesses K'ih said body, as shown in Fig. 2. The lock serves to limit the independent angular movement of the link in both directions, and where, as illustrated in F 1 to l, it is desired to close the hook on the end of the link, the said lock is provided with a forward projection L which will pass into a recess M in the link, and" when the parts are in looking position will close the mouth or opening of the hook. as will be readily understood from an inspection of Fig. 1.

All of the parts, it will be noted, are nested compactly together, and the body, the lever and the lock are all formedup of sheet metal of substantially U-form in transverse section. The U-shaped body A and the lever effectually protect the working parts lying within them, and owing to the fact that the lock under the influence of its spring exerts a longitudinal pressure in the direction of strain on the device, it not only holds the parts eflectually in locking position, but takes up all wear and prevents rattling or noise when the device is subjected to vibration.

To release the device, it is only necessary to lift the hand lever by means of the finger piece, thereby allowing the link to move forwardly away from the lock, and in returning the parts to their locking position under tension, the link automatically swings back to the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 2, and in doing so forces the lock to retreat slightly against the tension of its spring and immediately enters its seat in the lock, where it will be securely held until the tension is relieved by again lifting the lever.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a take up device of the type described, the combination with a body, a lever U-shape in cross section pivotally mounted on one end of the body and adapted toswing into a position to embrace said body, and a link pivotally mounted on the lever between the axis and free end of the lever, of a longitudinally movable lock mounted within the body and projecting beyond the end to which the lever is pivoted, the projecting end of said lock and link having cooperating engaging shoulders for holding the link against angular movement about its pivot. 4 i i 2. In a take up device of the type described, the combination with a body substantially U-shape in cross section, a lever substantially U-shape in cross section, pivpressed lock mounted within the body and. projecting beyond the pivotal end of the body and lever, said lock and link having cooperating locking seats and shoulders to hold the link in closed position.

3. In a take up device of the type described, the combination with a substantially U-shaped body, a substantially U- shaped lever, a transverse pivot bolt connecting the sides of the body and lever at one end, a link adapted to extend around the pivotal end of the body and lever when the lever is closed on the body, said link being pivotally connected with the sides of the lever intermediate the pivot bolt and free end of the lever, of a lock having sides embraced by and sliding longitudinally of the body on said pivot bolt, lugs on the body for holding the lock in position within the body, a spring for advancing the end of the look beyond the end of the body and lever, seats in the sides of the lock beyond the end of the lever, inclines on the sides of the lock, and shoulders on the link adapted to cooperate with said inclines and seats for displacing the lock and retaining the link in closed position.

4. In a take up device of the type described, the combination with a body, a lever pivotally mounted at one end on one end of the body and adapted to fold down parallel. with the body, a link pivotally mounted on the lever intermediate the axis and PHILIP n. CHRISTMAN.

YVitnesses:

FANNY BAUERBAOH, JOHN B. WHITE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. (3.. 

